Assam: Cong demands removal of EC observer

Assam: Cong demands removal of EC observer

PTI | March 18, 2016 1:48 pm

Assam Congress on Friday asked the Election Commission to withdraw Election Expenditure Observer Raghavendra Singh from the state for allegedly acting in a "partisan" and "high-handed" manner against a particular political party.

"Singh, accompanied by CRPF and police personnel had surrounded the residence of senior Congress Minister Rakibul Hussain on March 16 without any prior intimation or notice," APCC Chief Anjan Dutta said in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

He alleged Singh had stopped the vehicle of Hussain, who was accompanied by his wife and son, when they were coming out of their residence, refused to divulge his identity and forcefully conducted search of the minister’s personal vehicle and accompanying security escort vehicles.

Later, Singh allowed Hussain and his family members to leave but he along with his team raided and searched the minister’s residence in the absence of any member of the family or third party independent witness which is "absolutely illegal and not permissible under the existing procedure of law," Dutta said.